A popular 'magical' Essex Christmas wonderland has reopened to the public despite being issued with an immediate stop notice amid traffic fears.

Clacton Christmas Wonderland, held annually at St John's Plant Centre, St John's Road, had been cancelled by Tendring District Council after it emerged that the centre did not have the relevant planning permission.

But organisers at the garden centre posted a status on the Facebook page to say that they would be open as usual today (December 7).

It read: "Good News! Our Elves have worked their festive magic and we will be open in the morning as usual. The train and Santa too!"

The post has been shared nearly 900 times and has been met with a positive reaction with local residents.

However a spokesperson for Tendring District Council said: "Our position has remained the same.

Another said: "It brings joy to adults as well as children and it's once a year for God's sake, do you want to disappoint children who love the magical experience they enjoy?"

What the council had to say

Objection to the Christmas Wonderland planning application came from Essex County Council, stating that the stalls, Santa’s grotto and miniature train would cause disruption to traffic in the lead-up to Christmas.

At last year's festivities, on November 28, 2016, there was a collision at the junction of Earls Hall Drive and St John’s Road.

The ECC objection reads: "Earls Hall Drive is of insufficient width to allow two vehicles to pass. This increases the conflict between opposing vehicles, creates queues of traffic in St Johns Road and increases the risk of collisions in the highway.

"Without any improvements to the highway, the access remains as a conflict point and these issues will remain."

Due to ECC’s objection, Tendring District Council have said they are "looking to refuse the planning application but cannot do so until publicity periods associated with the planning application have ended".

Cllr Fred Nicholls, TDC’s lead for Corporate Enforcement, said that it had therefore been decided to take immediate action via a stop notice.

“No traffic survey has been submitted to justify the use of the site,” he said.

“It is not as well served by a safe access as other sites in the town centre or Clacton Shopping Village might be.

“There are reports of lengthy queues on St Johns Road this year from local residents and it was reported to us that last weekend congestion was causing significant delays by vehicles trying to access the site.”